INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is summarized as follows:
 Year Ended December 31,
 2025 2024 2023
Current:   
Federal$102,843 $70,144 $73,092 
State25,372 16,857 17,301 
 $128,215 $87,001 $90,393 
Deferred: 
Federal(12,689)582 (22,280)
State(4,168)53 (5,201)
$(16,857)$635 $(27,481)
     TOTAL$111,358 $87,636 $62,912 
A reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate for income for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, is comprised as follows:
 Year Ended December 31,
 202520242023
Income tax expense at statutory rate$95,681 21.0 %$81,080 21.0 %$57,280 21.0 %
State income taxes - net of federal benefit(a)
16,752 3.7 13,353 3.5 9,536 3.5 
Non-deductible expenses12,341 2.7 6,848 1.8 9,321 3.4 
Equity compensation(12,231)(2.7)(12,631)(3.3)(11,629)(4.2)
Other adjustments(1,185)(0.3)(1,014)(0.3)(1,596)(0.6)
TOTAL INCOME TAX PROVISION$111,358 24.4 %$87,636 22.7 %$62,912 23.1 %
(a) State taxes in California made up the majority (greater than 50 percent) of the tax effect in this category.
The Company's effective tax rate was 24.4% for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 22.7% for the same period in 2024 and 23.1% in 2023.
The Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 are summarized below.
 December 31,
 2025 2024
Deferred tax assets (liabilities): 
Accrued expenses$95,630 $76,419 
Revenue related reserves34,898 27,023 
Tax credits138 597 
Insurance27,224 24,817 
Lease liability 532,035 470,313 
State taxes 792 — 
$690,717 $599,169 
Valuation allowance(21)(93)
TOTAL DEFERRED TAX ASSETS$690,696 $599,076 
State taxes— (197)
Depreciation and amortization(67,348)(57,253)
Prepaid expenses(9,128)(6,390)
Right-of-use asset
(531,082)(468,955)
TOTAL DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES$(607,558)$(532,795)
NET DEFERRED TAX ASSETS$83,138 $66,281 
As of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits, net of its state benefits that would affect the Company's effective tax rate. The Company classifies interest and/or penalties on income tax liabilities or refunds as additional income tax expense or income. Such amounts are not material.
The federal statutes of limitations on the Company's 2021, 2020, and 2019 income tax years lapsed during the third quarter of 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. During the fourth quarter of each year, various state statutes of limitations also lapsed.
The Company paid federal income taxes of $94,000, $78,250, and $72,500 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, the Company paid state income taxes of $22,202, $18,087, and $17,230 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Taxes paid in California accounted to greater than 5% of the total cash paid for taxes for 2025, 2024, and 2023. California cash taxes paid for these years were $11,675, $9,175, and $8,350, respectively.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 4, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 5, 2025
2023Feb 1, 2024
2022Feb 2, 2023
2021Feb 9, 2022
2020Feb 3, 2021
2019Feb 5, 2020
2018Feb 6, 2019
2017Feb 8, 2018
2016Feb 8, 2017
2015Feb 10, 2016

About Income Taxes Disclosures

The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.

Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.